Caseworker in charge of protecting kids found with child pornography on phone, feds say
A New Jersey caseworker whose job involved protecting children from abuse was caught with child pornography — and was accused of attempted child sex trafficking, federal prosecutors said.
Trent Collier, who worked for the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Protection and Permanency, also shared child sexual abuse images, according to prosecutors.
Collier, 57, of Kearny, pleaded guilty on May 21 to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced May 22.
Since he agreed to plead guilty on both counts, the government won’t prosecute him for attempted sex trafficking, Collier’s plea agreement shows.
A federal defender appointed to represent him didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on May 22.
The case stems from Sept. 28, 2021, when Collier’s luggage was searched at the Newark Liberty International Airport after he arrived from the Dominican Republic, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
During the search, law enforcement officers found a phone and a tablet device inside the luggage, the criminal complaint says.
A forensic analysis of the phone revealed two child pornography images that Collier sent to another person over the WhatsApp messaging platform, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities found “multiple additional images of child sexual abuse, including images depicting the sexual exploitation of toddlers,” prosecutors said.
Additionally, according to Collier’s indictment, he tried to “recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, advertise, maintain, patronize, and solicit” a victim under the age of 18 “ to engage in a commercial sex act.”
He tried to sex traffic the victim, whose exact age wasn’t specified, between June 19, 2021 and Sept. 29, 2021, the indictment says.
The agency Collier worked for, New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency, investigates child abuse and neglect.
“If necessary,” the division arranges “for the child’s protection and the family’s treatment,” according to the state Department of Children and Family Services.
Collier worked for the department for nearly 22 years, according to department spokesman Jason Butkowski. His employment ended in February 2022, Butkowski told McClatchy News on May 22.
When child abuse or neglect is reported to the department, caseworkers interview the child’s parents and visits each child in their home, according to Moskowitz Law Group LLC, which is based in New Jersey.
Collier is facing up to 20 years in prison and could be fined up to $250,000 for one count of possession of child pornography, according to prosecutors.
He also faces a minimum five years in prison, and up to 20 years in prison, as well as a possible fine of up to $250,000 for one count of transportation of child pornography, prosecutors said.
Collier’s sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 10, according to prosecutors.
Kearny, where he’s from, is about a 5-mile drive northeast from Newark.
This story was originally published May 22, 2024 at 3:18 PM.
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